Confusion has arisen again on whether investigations into allegations of corruption against former Transport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik have been closed.

Yesterday, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department M Kayveas told a press conference that Monday's reply by the prime minister to Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timur) on the matter has been amended.

He then read out the amended reply in a statement which read that "Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) probes in relation to the complaint filed in 1997 have been concluded and forwarded to the AG Investigation Unit in relation to the 2002 complaint. However, although completed, they have been referred to the agency's legal department. The AG has not received the report on the matter yet."

Both the complaints by Lim are related to several business deals involving Ling and his former associate-turned-rival Soh Chee Wen. Lim lodged the second complaint following more several disclosures by Soh in an interview in malaysiakini.

In the written reply to Lim on Monday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said investigations into the first complaint were completed in July 1999, while the second complaint was concluded last April.

Lim, who is also DAP chairperson, had asked the prime minister the status of investigations into Ling's alleged corrupt practices, based on his complaints lodged in 1997 and 2002.

He also questioned the conferment of royal award which carries the title of 'Tun' on the former MCA president as reports lodged to the ACA against the latter still looms.

Different answer from Hilmi

Despite Kayveas's effort to explain the matter yesterday, Finance Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Dr Hilmi Yahaya in his winding up speech on the supplementary bill yesterday, said the two cases against Ling were settled and no grounds were found to bring the cases before the courts.

"Therefore, ACA has not questioned the conferment of the Tun award to the former minister of transport," Hilmi told the House.

He was conferred the 'Tun' title on June 5 in conjunction with the King's birthday.

Following the confusion, Lim brought up the matter with Hilmi in the House today and asked him for a clarification.

The parliamentary secretary said he would get a clarification from ACA again and give Lim a definite answer later.

However, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mustapa Mohamed in his winding up speech later, confirmed with Lim that the first case against Ling was closed and the second case is still pending with the ACA.